When to move to coop????

[FlutterbyChicks]

Mine are all in a dog crate (2 1/2 ft by 4 ft) in our garage. I switched from a red heat lamp to the mama brooder pad (which seems to be working great for them!!!). They are 2 1/2 weeks and 4 1/2 weeks. We should be getting our coop in the next two weeks that will have an outlet for electric. I was thinking about moving the dog crate itself into the coop to get them used to the new digs, while still being in their familiar brooder. Then after a few days, opening the door to let them nose around, then after a few days, if all is going well, remove the dog crate.

By that time, our weather should be pretty good, and they'll be almost fully feathered. No adults chickens to orient them with. I'll miss having them right in our garage to peek at all day long though!

 

[TheFowlCottage]

Wait until their feathers come on but feel free to introduce them to the coop, and keep them outside during the day when it is warm and no reason. They will love that! You can set up a small play area to keep them contained

 

[rubylynn]

Around 8 weeks they start feathering out and should be able to be moved to a coop!If the temp. Is not to cold!!!

 

[linbee]

I have 4 full grown hens and have 11 chicks in a brooder that are 2 months old. I thought I had to wait until they were about 4-5 months old before I could put them in the coop with the others. Is that not true? The brooder is in the hen house so everyone gets to visit through the wire, they are fully feathered but not the same size as the grown ones. I live in South Texas, temps at night have been almost 80, so I'm not worried about the temp, just the "getting along". They are definitely out growing the brooder, and I was going to build another one to hold them for another 2 months. Maybe I don't have to???? Could I put them in and see how they act? The older hens have been seeing them for 5 weeks everyday and night. What do you think?

 

[CrazyPetunias]

Try letting them mingle together during the day when you have time to watch them. You want to watch for excessive pecking by the bigger ones. If they get along during the day then you are probably ok to remove the brooder. Since they already are used to seeing each other, you will probably have no trouble.

 

[linbee]

Thank you.....I think I'll do that - I can supervise on the playground!

 

[TJordan]

I've set up my sons old play yard. I'm going to start mixing the ones inside with the young ones outside to prep for moving to my mom-n-laws.

 

[curious chickee]

Hello, first time chicken mom here again. Ok, my chicks are now just over 5 weeks old and they have grown so much. Being such a novice, I have been told that they should stay in the brooder up to 8-10 weeks. Then other sources say they can go to the coop when all the feathers come in but, being new to all this , I don't know how to make sure that they have all there feathers. Any suggestions??? We are in central California, in the mountains, and the weather has been beautiful.

They will be fine outside, mine are outside from the start, no heat lamp after 3-4 weeks, just make sure the have a spot that is draft free and some shelter from these weekly storms we have been getting (no complaining we need it). Also make sure predator safe, racoons, coyotes, red tail hawks, owls, even opposums, occasionally a fox.
Also, I know the weather is mild right now but make sure your coop has some spots to keep cool this summer, our summers can be hard on our birds.

 

[Shabana]

My 12 little 5 week old porcelain sablepoots are currently in a small tractor in my garden, and last night they went without heat for the first time with no problem. It got down to 9 degrees C.
They've been without heat during the day for a few days.

I'm having to move the tractor every day now and even then they are starting to make a mess of my lawn so this weekend they'll be going in the flocks enclosure but still in their tractor till they are familiar.

I have to say that I will be sad.
This is the first time I've raised chicks using an incubator and had them at home.
I love to see them in the garden and although they are only a few hundred yards away at my allotment I will miss them and miss watching their antics.
That said, I can't wait to see them in their huge enclosure once they can explore and spread their wings

 

[Gembeag]

Mine are all in a dog crate (2 1/2 ft by 4 ft) in our garage. I switched from a red heat lamp to the mama brooder pad (which seems to be working great for them!!!). They are 2 1/2 weeks and 4 1/2 weeks. We should be getting our coop in the next two weeks that will have an outlet for electric. I was thinking about moving the dog crate itself into the coop to get them used to the new digs, while still being in their familiar brooder. Then after a few days, opening the door to let them nose around, then after a few days, if all is going well, remove the dog crate. 

By that time, our weather should be pretty good, and they'll be almost fully feathered. No adults chickens to orient them with. I'll miss having them right in our garage to peek at all day long though!

Ours are 2 1/2 weeks and also in a dog crate in our kitchen. Our coop is up and running, but empty! It's like when I was expecting! I'm in the UK. Where are you?x